Starshade deploys for first time

Check out this awesome stop-motion video of a starshade. Our own Jeremy Kasdin, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, is one of the principal researchers on the project, which will aid in the search for planets outside our own solar system.

“This is the first time we’ve actually seen this thing deploy,” Kasdin tells New Scientist.“That was a huge accomplishment.” Rumor has that the Discovery Channel will be featuring the starshade, along with interviews with Kasdin and other team members, in an upcoming feature filmed in August in California.